Leila Khaled

Leila Khaled's impact is measured not in trophies but in her enduring symbolic power. She was the first woman to hijack an airplane, a feat that made her a revolutionary icon. Her 1969 photograph holding an AK-47 became one of the most recognizable images of Palestinian resistance, often compared to Che Guevara. She has been the subject of documentaries, books, and academic studies, cementing her place in history as a polarizing but unforgettable figure.